Fresh off a victory at the Rugby World Cup, New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams is scheduled to make a special guest appearance at the Dubai Rugby Sevens, which will be held at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai from Thursday through Saturday.
Williams will be interacting with avid rugby fans as the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series kicks off in Dubai.
Following a spectacular performance during New Zealand’s convincing 2015 Rugby World Cup victory over Australia, the All Blacks player is setting his sights on an Olympic medal when he joins the New Zealand Sevens squad in January and will be expected to play at least six tournaments during the series.
After being named in coach Gordon Tietjens’ core squad to prepare for the Rio Olympics next year, Williams said he rated becoming an Olympian as the greatest feat an athlete could achieve.
“The thought of winning an Olympic Gold medal is unreal and this gives me a great feeling inside,” Williams said. “But this is a long way off and for now I am concentrating on the World Rugby Sevens Series.
“I am very excited about attending the Dubai Rugby Sevens and while I won’t have the opportunity to play in this opening round, I am thrilled about my involvement in the Sevens and being part of one of the biggest Tournaments in the series in Dubai.”
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Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament director Jim Fitzsimons said: “It is an honour to have such a great All Black join us at the Dubai Rugby Sevens as we kick off the first round of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.
“The inclusion of Rugby Sevens in the 2016 Olympic Games means the standard of rugby being played just keeps on getting better and better and global attention on the sport is increasing. We are looking forward to following Williams’s journey in the All Blacks Sevens early next year.”
Tickets for the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens 2015 can still be purchased online at www.dubairugby7s.com
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